26-year-old Iranian protester Erfan Soltani now has an unclear future ahead of him. His execution, which was scheduled for January 14, has since been stayed. Police arrested him at his home in Fardis on January 10. This city is situated 25 miles away from Tehran on the west side. Soltani’s family has encountered extraordinary challenges in soliciting life-saving information about his case. It left them with only a brief window of time to make a final visit before the execution was stayed.
The Iranian judiciary avers that no final death sentence has been issued against Soltani. This directly contradicts statements from human rights organizations and his family regarding the seriousness of his condition. The public outrage over Soltani’s case has led to widespread protests in Iran and around the world. This increased attention developed particularly following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Arrest and Charges
Erfan Soltani was charged with “assembly and collusion against the country’s internal security” and “propaganda activities” against the regime. His trial was widely considered to have fallen short of fair standards, and many observers referred to it as a “sham trial.”
The swift and hasty pace of the proceedings alarmingly erodes the very fabric of the judicial process in Iran. Unlike any other defendant, Soltani went to trial without legal counsel. His own right to appeal the death sentence imposed on him was denied him.
“assembly and collusion against the country’s internal security” – Iran’s Judiciary
Soltani’s present place of incarceration is the Central Prison of Karaj, some 42 kilometers (26 miles) northwest of Tehran. His family remains largely uninformed about the developments of his case and has faced obstacles in seeking clarity on the charges against him.
International Reactions
U.S. President Donald Trump once claimed that he’d gotten Iran to commit to stopping executions. This is especially the case given the context of Soltani’s case. He stated, “There’s no plan for executions or an execution,” while expressing concern over the situation in the country.
“I’ve been told that on good authority. We’ll find out about it. I’m sure if it happens, I’ll be very upset.” – Donald Trump
Trump’s comments reflect a broader international apprehension regarding human rights violations in Iran, particularly in relation to the treatment of protesters. Activists have continued to press Trump to do more – and to go beyond rhetoric and truly make the Iranian people’s fight for their rights HIS fight, too.
Somayeh, an advocate for human rights in Iran, emphasized the importance of accountability. “Our demand now is that Trump truly stand behind the words he said, because the Iranian people came to the streets based on those statements.”
Human Rights Advocacy
The delay of Soltani’s execution was welcomed with a wary relief by human rights groups. Hengaw, a Norway-based human rights organization, first reported the delay. This followed a statement by Iran’s judiciary denying that Soltani had been given any death penalty. While these accounts continue to waver back and forth, what remains is the tragic truth for Soltani’s family.
Activists, including Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, have kept up pressure for international attention to be shamelessly cast on Soltani’s plight. Somayeh poignantly asked for intervention: “An unarmed population trusted these words and is now under gunfire. I beg you, please do not let Erfan be executed. Please.”
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has weighed in, asserting confidence in the absence of execution plans:
“I can tell you I’m confident about that, there is no plan for hanging at all.” – Abbas Araghchi
This development has opened up an important collective discussion in Iran regarding civil liberties. It further underscores the international community’s duty to speak up for human rights. With protests erupting demanding regime change in cities throughout the country, the outcome of the Erfan Soltani’s case is unclear.
